Solutions Love

We just received the sweetest email from our bride Allison! Check out her wedding pictures. The wedding took place at the Lake Mary Events center. Heather Ahrens photographed the silk McCaffrey gown and Black Jim Hjelm bridesmaid dresses. Thanks to Brittany with Tickled Pink Brides, the whole look came together perfectly on the wedding day.

Letter from our bride:

Solutions girls!,

I just wanted to let you know how much I appreciate you guys! I had such an amazing
experience at Solutions! Amy was my consultant and she was just amazing! She spent almost 4 hours with me as I tried on what felt like a thousand dresses and never made me feel rushed! She kept telling me "its just like falling in love... When you know you know" and she was right! Before she even had MY dress zipped up I was in tears and in love... I couldnt help but hug her since I felt like she had made my dress dreams come true :) My mother, mother in-law, one of my bridesmaids and I were all in tears as Amy poured champagne for our toast! It was exactly like I always dreamt it would be! I always looked forward to going into Solutions and seeing you girls, the new dresses and accessories and purchasing not only my dress but my veil, hair piece, jewelery, bridesmaids dresses and bridesmaids gifts! How could I have gone anywhere else after Amy and Tali made me feel so special every time I stepped foot through those doors!

Thank you so much for making my hunt for the perfect dress so PERFECT!
Allison Raudebaugh (Vandeberghe)

Hot Off The Press

Badgley Mischka's new bridal design, Fifi, is stylishly introduced in InStyle Weddings. The dress is delicately shown with a stunning drop earring and a more trendy chunky bracelet. The gown has a sweetheart neckline paired with tiered pieces of silk organza. So many brides are looking for a soft flowy dress, but down want the baby doll dress that hides their figure. This dress is a great balance between the two styles.

We will be receiving our very out Fifi in just a matter of weeks. To schedule a try on appointment please give our Winter Park / Orlando location a call: 407.647.8666

New Arrivals!

Christmas has come a little bit early to Solutions Bridal in Gainesville. A few of our new stock pieces from our designers Fall 2010 collections have come in! Meet "Dallas" from Watters bridal:





This gorgeous dress is similar to one of the store favorites from the Spring 2010 collection, "Torreon," except Watters has added straps and made a few beautiful changes to the embroidery and lace.

We also received some new bridesmaid dresses from the Dessy Group. This cute dress would look great on a large group of girls or be stylish on it's own as a rehearsal dinner dress:



One of the great things about the Dessy bridesmaids dresses is that they come in a wide variety of colors. Bridesmaids can match any color palliate that a bride could dream of. They even come in white and ivory , so a bride can even do one of the bridesmaid dresses as a reception dress.

Real Wedding: Michelle & John Dill

Michelle and John are the ultimate Solutions Bridal couple! We helped with the gown, accessories, bridesmaid dresses and tuxedos. During all of this, we really got to know the couple. We even got to see Michelle the day after as she dropped off the tuxedos. (Note to wedding planners: please include this in your services)

Their photos just went up on Damon Tucci's blog!

Raving Reviews...

I just stumbled upon a loving review of our Solutions Bridal Orlando location. Check out what this friend of a bride-to-be had to say:

Saint Paul, MN
9/2/2009 I am not a bride, but the friend of a bride-to-be. We were headed to the Collection when we drove by Solutions Bridal (we are not originally from Orlando, so we were rather ignorant about the available bridal shops). After our scheduled appointment at Collection, we dropped by Solutions without an appointment. They invited us right in.

This shop is exactly what you picture a bridal shop to be. The floor is wide, and there is a large platform at one end of the store with several mirrors so the brides-to-be can see themselves in all their glory. The floor is very spacious, so it is easy to browse through the dresses. We were not very familiar with a lot of the designers, having focused on Vera Wang and Monique Lhuillier (I know, I know), but we found an amazing selection of dresses we loved. It is not true that all the dresses are the Cinderella sort. Many are, but this is not my friend's taste, nor mine, and Solutions had plenty of options to satisfy someone who wants a more simple and tasteful look.

The salespeople were very helpful. I asked for champagne and promptly received it (it was only on my fourth glass that I started to suspect it was nonalcoholic). All of the sample dresses were in very good condition. They gave my friend a bustier and some heels to help with her trying-on. They even put up with me circling the store, rifling through the dresses, throwing back glass after glass of (unfortunately nonalcoholic) champagne, and giving out loud opinions on every dress my friend tried on (and several the other brides tried on as well).

In the end, we found the dress. My friend looked amazing. This bridal shop is like one you see in the movies--the atmosphere was just so perfect. It really was such an amazing shopping experience. My friend's total wedding dress shopping time: 4 hours, 13 minutes. And the dress turned out to be about 3 thou cheaper than the Vera Wang she had originally had her heart set on--can't get better than that!

I should mention that this is a boutique store with a small selection of designers, but this is exactly what a bridal shop should be.

Source

Badgley Mischka Trunk Show!

Starting tomorrow a very exciting in-store event is taking place. The Badgley Mischka Trunk Show! The dresses will be a mix of best sellers as well as their new line, plus you can take advantage of the 10% off discount throughout the weekend. Dresses range from 3500-15000 giving every Bride plenty of amazing styles to choose from. Shawne, one of Badgley Mischka's fashion experts, will also be joining the fun until Sunday. Charity De Meer, a local Orlando photographer will be taking photos on Saturday and Simone from Makeover Station will be offering free makeup trail! We will be kicking off this amazing trunk show with Mimosas to celebrate the weekend! We invite all Brides & Bridesmaids to join us for this special event.

a "Gleeful" Wedding!

The new Fox TV show "Glee" is sweeping through Solutions Bridal lately. We love this show!! It's funny, and it always gives us something to laugh about together on Thursday mornings.

And just when we thought the show couldn't get any better, the writers put super cute and stylish little Emma in a wedding dress!

Source: Entertainment Weekly

Not only am I in love with the idea of Emma's headband, but her gorgeous gown is reminiscent of a stunning Mikaella Bridal gown! We love this look and agree it would be perfect for a classy Florida wedding!!

Real Wedding: That makes you want an Invite!

Recently, our lovely bride Kiimberly dropped off her Kenneth Pool wedding gown to get it cleaned for an additional photo shoot. We took a peek at the gown to see the wedding day damage. We can always tell how much fun a bride has by the look of her wedding gown. Let's just say, she got her moneys worth of fun! After seeing this bridal gown, we had to keep an eye on her photographers blog. The pictures are up. Take a look at the Vue Photography for a full display of Kimberly's big day. The pictures say just as much as the dress does. We are so fortunate to have this amazing couple as one of our clients. She fell in love with her fiance in elementary school. Their story is quiet unique and special. Thanks Kimberly for sharing it with us!

Glam Going Rebel

Rebel Glam photographer, Charity De Meer, scooped up our Torrean gown for a fashionista filled shoot. Since Sunday, the Solutions Bridal buying team has been at NYC Bridal Market. The shoot is filled with the same energy we have found here. Brides (including Southern belles) are starting to push the envelope. I just can't explain how excited we are about it! We have been running from one designer showroom to the next in search of the best of the best in bridal. The Spring collections are all about luxurious organzas, hand-crafted rosettes, natural waists, tulle skirts, and delicately placed beading. It was difficult to come across a full beaded gown. The designers are taking a more softer feminine approach, but adding drama by styling the gown with vintage inspired jewelry. After seeing Charity's photographs, I just got all excited again about the current bridal trends. Spring 2010 can only be described as nothing less than dreamy.

Real Brides Go Editorial

Image by Rivini Bridal

With many thanks to Abby Liga Photography and our Solutions Bridal Stylist, Alicia, our Rivini gown "Thirteen" was transformed. The concept of the shoot was to showcase how a bride should celebrate her marriage by having unique, fashion-forward images taken of her days before her wedding. As Abby mentioned on her blog, everyone is looking for something different. These shoots represent who the bride is. Sometimes the bride gets suckered into wearing sister's early 90's veil down the aisle or the blusher over the face for her father. These are all great wedding traditions that are hard to do without, but may not necessarily represents the bride's personal style. The Couture Dress Sessions by Abby Liga gives the bride a chance to experience what its like to be on an editorial shoot adorn with accessories she loves. As consultants we have seen the same dress look completely different on two different brides. The dress really does become the brides after all the accessories, hair, and make-up styles are selected.

A day at the Courtyard

This past Thursday afternoon at the Courtyard at Lake Lucerne an amazing photo shoot took place. Abby Liga an extremely talented photographer based out of Orlando shot the photos. Her unique & fresh taste brought the location to life. Abby has a true talent for capturing the right moments & emotions in her photos. Designer dresses from Solutions Bridal were provided for the shoot and looked stunning in the hints of outside lighting provided from the Courtyard. The beautiful veils, necklaces, earrings & broaches were provided by Paris. Also joining the fun was Simone from Makeover station, she used her unique skills to give our model the big gorgeous hair & beautiful bright eyes that sealed the deal for the perfect picture. -Brittany E.

Expert Styling

Last month we hosted the Rivini Fall Trunk Show featuring Rivini expert, Indira Rivera. A Trunk Show is a prime opportunity to find your dream dress. Most stores only carry around eight samples from a particular designer. During a trunk show the designer sends in the whole collection for the bride to view during her personal appointment. The designer expert works as your personal stylist to help complete your look for the big day. They know all the custom changes and tricks of the trade. It was such a pleasure having Indira in for the Rivini Trunk Show. After working for Vera Wang for years, she made the switch to Rivini. She takes great pride in the line and has provided us with additional insight on one of our exclusive lines.

Join us on October 9th-11th for the Anne Barge Trunk Show with expert Jennifer Weinburg. The event is taking place inside Solutions Bridal Winter Park. Jennifer worked with McCaffrey Haute Couture for several years before moving over to Anne Barge Bridal. We are excited for the opportunity to have Jennifer in. Please give us a call to make your personal bridal appointment.
407.647.8666

(Picture: Left to Right: Tali, Amy, Rivini Armane Gown, Molllye, Indira, Alicia)

Last Saturday Chad Pilster from Pilster Photography joined all of us here at Solutions Bridal for a night to remember! While helping Brides try on their wedding dresses and get ready for their special day, Chad Pilster shot some of the most amazing photographs that truly capture the magic of our event. The overwhelming sense of happiness and excitement filled the room as the girls tried on numerous gowns. Mr. Pilster captured their excitement with each individual shot. All of us at Solutions Bridal send out a big thank you to Pilster Photography for such an amazing experience. For any Florida Brides looking for a wonderful photographer to capture the true emotions of your wedding day, Pilster Photography is defiantly the way to go! -Brittany E.

An experience to remember

Last Saturday Abby Liga from Liga Photography and Amy Morelli from 2U Collection joined us here at Solutions Bridal for a wonderful day with mimosas, while brides tried on numerous designer dresses. Abby Liga shot complimentary dress documentation to all the girls that tried on a dress that day! The entire experience was wonderful and both talented girls graced us with their presence, making the event all the more special. Abby Liga's amazing photography from that night can be seen in the collage posted along with this blog! Amy Morelli's stationary collections are creative, unique and should be used for any upcoming events you might be having!

Inside Weddings: Editorial Spread on Anne Barge

Check out the new collection of Anne Barge in Inside Weddings. As many of you know, Anne Barge is one of our favorites. She is an Atlanta based designer that provides custom gowns for our clients. We have some upcoming events going on with the Anne Barge Brand this Fall!

Our Assistant Manager, Alicia, is getting flown up to the Anne Barge Show room in September to get certified as an Anne Barge Specialist. We are so excited for her and can't wait to hear all the news when she returns.

It will be just in time for our Anne Barge Trunk Show on October 9th-11th! We will make sure to do a follow up blog post then. Stay Tuned.

McBride To the Tea!

We just received pictures and an adorable email from our lovely Winter Park bride, Sarah McBride. Can you believe that is her new name? How perfect! Sarah knew from the start that she wanted a tea-length wedding gown, it was just all about finding the one. Some times when a bride tries on a particular dress, everyone just knows right then and there that dress is for her. I believe the right dress is the one that makes you feel like a bride and represents your personal style. For Sarah, being traditional just wasn't her. The pictures show all and you can see this gown is truly meant to be hers! Here are the details of her dress shopping experience:

"I just wanted to pass on what a wonderful experience it was picking out my dress at Solutions. Going into dress shopping, I knew that I wanted a short dress. The store only had 1 short dress and I fell in love with it the minute I tried it on. I cannot tell you how many compliments I got on the dress, both trying it on in the store and on my wedding day. It was slightly untraditional, but totally me, which is exactly how I wanted to feel on my wedding day."

Congrats to Mrs. McBride!

Hot GOWNS comin' to TOWN!

We are so excited to announce a Watters & Watters trunk show coming to Solutions Bridal in Gainesville! Starting on July 31st and continuing thru August 8th, you will be able to find all of newest Watters styles... even dresses from the Fall collection that we haven't seen yet!!

The best part? We will be offering a Designer Discount on all of the new Watters wedding gowns! Check out some of their hot new styles...


Watters Passion



Watters Harmony


Appointments are filling up fast, so give us a call today!
352.367.0070

Backstage Pass

On May 31, 2009 Solutions Bridal rocked the Gaylord Palms Runway in Orlando, Florida. Betsy Hansen photographed the behind the scenes.

There is so much preparation involved before a fashion show. First, we do casting calls to meet the models and fit them into the dresses. Once we fit the dresses to the right model look, we have to tailor the dresses to their body. Then, the dresses are transported to the event location. From there we meet with make and hair stylist Simone from Makeover Station. She carries out the look with couture hairstyles and make-up. Then, we had the finishing touches with Erin Cole jewelry. From there we do the rehearsal and practice the pace with Frank Sinatra in the background. Thirty minutes before the show, models get into their first dress. We crowd around have a touching speech from the owner, Newell Fox. The models line up and get ready for their first step on the runway. Once the fashion show starts, the adrenaline starts going backstage. The thirty minute show feels like two minutes and then its all over. There is a big sigh of relief... ahhh... success. No one tripped and all the dresses made it down. There is so much preparation involved to make the fashion show a success. Two months of prep for 30 minutes of show time, but its aways worth the it! Please come visit us at our next fashion show on September 13th at The Hilton in Gainesville, FL. Enjoy the behind the scenes pictures from Betsy Hansen!

Presenting ... Mrs. Poirier

Mrs. Kaitlin Poirier tied the knot on May 31, 2009! I just received the sweetest email with pictures today. I met Kaitlin back in August 2008. She is one of our several Tallahassee clients. When she first called me to make her appointment she sounded really distressed. She had been searching for months and started feeling overwhelmed and confused. I assured her we had the dress for her. Still unsure, she decided to make to drive down to our Gainesville salon. To her disbelief, one of the very first dresses she put on ended up being the one! She was between two and just couldn't decide. I modeled the "2nd favorite" while she stood next to me in the other dress. At that moment, she said the words she never imagined would come out of her mouth.. "I found my dress." The one she was in, was the one! The one she would wear down the aisle 10 months later. Take a look at the dress that finally made the cut!

Setting the Tone

You've set the date for your wedding. Wow, a load off of your back. Now it's time to

SET THE TONE!

Now... how do you go about doing that?

We often tell our clients how important the wedding gown is when it comes to setting the tone for their big day. However, the tone involves so much more than choosing a color scheme. It embraces everything you want you and your guests to feel during your wedding and it effects everything from the stationery/invitations you choose to the wedding photography.

Here's an example of what I mean by setting the tone.

Claire comes into Solutions Bridal and finds her dream gown. Yay! We pop champagne and celebrate with her. Her dress is a gorgeous Alina Valenta gown.


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Later she is picking out invitations with her mom. The flower and lace details in the dress inspire them to lean more toward romantic, vintage-inpired designs. This is the invitation they chose:

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Next, Claire and her fiance begin interviewing several photographers in town. They want the perfect style to reflect their wedding day. The photographers all ask her what her dress looks like to get a feel for her style. After reviewing several portfolios, they fall in love with this vintage look, and it perfectly reflects Claire's dress!

Source.
When Claire meets with her florist and event planner, she finalizes her color scheme and discusses options for details that reflect the romantic, vintage look she's had in her mind since she decided on that gorgeous Alvina Valenta gown.


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And that, ladies and gentlemen, is how finding your wedding gown can help SET THE TONE for your entire wedding day!